In what will be among the nation’s most hotly contested 2014 U.S. House races, both Republican Rep. Mike Coffman and his Democratic challenger Andrew Romanoff raised more than $500,000 in the second fundraising quarter of the year.

The lofty totals place both at more than $1 million raised for the year, though Romanoff has about $65,000 more in the bank than the three-term incumbent from Colorado’s 6th Congressional District.

Based on a news release, Coffman’s campaign said he raised more than $566,000 for the quarter, while Romanoff’s campaign reports having raised more than $500,000.

“The outpouring of grassroots support for Congressman Coffman has been incredible,” Kristin Strohm, finance director for Coffman’s campaign, said in a statement.

Romanoff, who is a former Colorado House Speaker, said Coloradans want Congress to take a different course.

“I’m grateful to have so many supporters leading the way,” said Romanoff, who has pledged not to take money from political interest groups. In 2010, Romanoff offered the same pledge in a Democratic U.S. Senate primary he lost to Michael Bennet.

The Aurora-based 6th Congressional District is among the most competitive in the country with an electorate divided almost evenly among Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters.

Coffman won re-election to the seat in 2012 by about 2 percentage points against former state Rep. Joe Miklosi after millions of dollars poured into the race from the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Romanoff is an opportunistic carpetbagger. Bennet cleaned his plow in the Democrat senate primary. Now Romanoff has lowered his expectations and is pursuing a seat in the US House of Representatives. Eventually, Romanoff will run for dog-catcher, where he might have a chance at success.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.